This curated selection of titles examines the concept of power and its role in shaping society. The texts in the Power Collection draw upon a wide range of literary traditions and genres to explore concepts related to power and its pursuit, such as equality and injustice, colonialism, authority, and conflict.
Publication year 1983
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Military / War, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, History: World, Religion / Spirituality, Politics / Government
Publication year 1913
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Community, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Nation
Tags Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, American Literature, History: World
The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton is a tragicomedy of manners that explores themes of greed, ruthless ambition, progress, and gendered ideas. Wharton, who was herself a member of the New York City elite, was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Literature, and her novels are pieces of classic American literature for their social commentary, multilayered characters, and analysis of American culture.Published in 1913, this novel can be read as... Read The Custom of the Country Summary
Publication year 2009
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Gender / Feminism, Arts / Culture, Diversity, Education, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, Religion / Spirituality
American author Alexandra Bracken’s young adult dystopian novel The Darkest Minds (2012) tells the story of teen protagonist Ruby, who escapes a grim government camp for kids with special abilities. She meets a group of other young people on the run led by the charismatic Liam. The first book in The Darkest Minds series is followed by Never Fade, In the Afterlight, and Through the Dark. Exploring themes of generational conflict and the power of... Read The Darkest Minds Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Fantasy, Mythology, Action / Adventure, LGBTQ, Children's Literature
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown was originally published in 2003 and has become an international bestseller, with sales of over 80 million. It was made into a popular movie starring Tom Hanks, Audrey Tatou, and Ian McKellen. The novel is Brown’s fourth, a fast-paced thriller with political, historical, and religious overtones. Its initial release generated controversy for perceived condemnation of the Catholic Church and historical inaccuracies. Despite the charges, The Da Vinci Code... Read The Da Vinci Code Summary
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Society: War
Tags Ancient Rome, Politics / Government, History: World, Military / War, History: European, Classical Period, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags History: World, Biography
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Humor, Satire, American Literature, Arts / Culture, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance
The Devil Wears Prada, published in 2004, is the debut novel of author Lauren Weisberger. It tells the tale of a hapless assistant working for a tyrannical boss in the fashion industry.The story takes place largely in present-day New York City, mostly in the offices of a high-fashion magazine called Runway. The central character, Andrea Sachs (who uses the nickname Andy), narrates the story from the first-person perspective, and the events she describes transpire over... Read The Devil Wears Prada Summary
Publication year 2011
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Politics / Government, Philosophy, Psychology, Business / Economics, Sociology, History: World, Psychology, Philosophy
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Grandparents, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Identity: Language, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Nation, Society: Education, Self Discovery, Relationships: Fathers
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Free verse, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Race / Racism, History: African , African American Literature, History: World
Publication year 1987
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Western, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1938
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Class, British Literature, Classic Fiction
Set in early 20th-century London, “The Duchess and the Jeweller” (1938) is a short story by Virginia Woolf that explores themes such as Materialism and Greed, Authenticity Versus Deceit, and Social Climbing and Class. The story focuses on a fragment of jeweller Oliver Bacon’s day and describes an important meeting between him and the Duchess of Lambourne. Though the plot is simple—a jeweller meets a client at his shop to potentially buy some gems—the focus... Read The Duchess and the Jeweller Summary
Publication year 1614
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Class, Identity: Femininity
Tags Play: Tragedy, Jacobean Era, Class, Education, Education, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Classic Fiction
The Duchess of Malfi, originally published as The Tragedy of the Dutchesse of Malfy, is a Jacobean revenge tragedy written by John Webster. Webster also wrote the revenge tragedy The White Devil and frequently collaborated with other playwrights working for the King’s Men in London. It was written in 1613 and performed to a private audience at Blackfriars Theatre a year later. That same year it was also performed to a general audience at the... Read The Duchess of Malfi Summary
Publication year 1851
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Imagist poetry, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Victorian Period
Publication year 1852
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags History: European, Politics / Government, Philosophy, Sociology, German Literature, Business / Economics, History: World, French Literature, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1968
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Fame
Tags History: U.S., Journalism, Arts / Culture, Addiction / Substance Abuse, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction, Biography
Publication year 1920
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism
Tags Play: Tragedy, Classic Fiction, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Education, Education, American Literature, History: World, Drama / Tragedy
Publication year 1837
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride
Tags Classic Fiction, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Scandinavian Literature